Tractor tie rod



W. C. MORTON ET AL TRACTOR TIE ROD Filed July 28, 1953 Aug. 21, 1934.

3 sheets-sheet 1 Aug. 2l, 1934.

W. C. MORTON ET AL TRACTOR TIE ROD 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 28, 1933 /QTrae/VEY Aug. 2l, 1934. w c. MoRToN ET AL TRACTOR TIE ROD Filedl July 28. -1933 3 Shee'S-Slleeil 3 Patented Aug. 21, i934 e i Y Y1,970,852

UNiii-DA sTA'iEs "PATENT orificesA TRACTOR friE Roi) William C. Morton and Carl P. Degenfelder, Lincoln, Nebr., assignors of onc-'halftoElnier Kossack, Lincoln, Nebr.

Application July 2s, i933, seriai'No. 682,574V

7 claims. (ci. 305-9) This invention relates to improvements in section along the line 2-2 in Figure 1, only tractor tie rods particularly designed for trackthe supporting channels of the track and the laying or crawler type tractors. Tractors" of tie and equalizing structure belngshown.

Y this kind as now constructed comprise two igure 3 isa plan view of the invention, parti track frames each including an endless track ly broken away and in section showing the or track chain trained over drive sprockets at angular position of the tie bar when one track the rear and idler pulleys at the front and the (the left) is raised.' I Y frames are arranged to move or swing independ- Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2 but ently ina vertical' directionat their'fron't ends with the frontal tie bar removed and showing to compensate for inequalities in the ground the right track channels raised. '26.5

' 15 lation and the result 'is that the track fromes ure 5.

over which the tractor travels. This necessary Figure 5 is a plan view of a slightly modified action of the track frames of course prevents structure.` Y Y the use of the usual tie rod to hold `the front Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmental detail in ends of the track frames in proper spaced resection'of a bolt and spring as shown in Fig- 7 0 have a tendency to spreader, conversely, toe Figure 7 is an enlarged section along theY line in at their front ends causing undue wear and 7-'7inFigure'2- Y strain on the supporting and ydriving elements Figure 8 is an enlarged section along the line for the tracks. 8-8 in Figure 2. n v i A With the above in View it is the main object Figure 9 is adetached side velevation'of the -75 of this invention to provide a tie rod or equalrotatable tie element or member` alone. v l iaer in a simple, durable and'efrlcient form whichV Figure 10 is V.a front elevation of `one end .porwhen applied to the tractorv will permit the tion of the invention showing 'a mud guard or necessary upward and downward independent' shield in place thereon. o

'play ofthe front ends of the track frames but Figure 11 is a fragmental front elevation of 80 will at the same time positively maintain the one end of a modied form of the tie bar and tie tracks in proper parallel relationship andpremember. Y Y vent the injurious spreading or t'oeing in afore- Referring now with more particularity to the said. drawings, in Figure 1 thereof a convential form Anotherobject is to provide a structure of of track laying or crawler type tractor is illus- =85 this kind comprising a pair of tie elements setrated for purposes of exemplifying one installacured in lateral alignment to the track frames tion of this invention. This form of tractor in- 'adjacent their frontal ends and laterally eX- cludes two track assemblies made up of vtrack tended tie bars connecting the .tiev elements, chains one on each side and one indicated at A,

,.35 these connections including rollers playing in each trained over a rear drive sprocket B and a C90 arcuately formed slots so as to permit the Anec-V front idler pulley C journaled at opposite ends essaryY vertical movement of the tracksV While of atrack frame including spaced and aligned compensating for the increased diagonal dischannels D. The track frames thus Aformed are tance between the tie elements and maintainadapted to swing or pivot on the rear drive axle 40 ing the tracks in proper spaced relationship. E whereby the frontal ends F may rise or fail `e5 A further object is to provide a structure as independently when the tracks are traveling over above in which provision is made to permit the uneven ground or obstructions.I The frontal end torsional or axial play inthe parts made necesof the tractor chassis and enginevis supported Sary by the angular and axial strain existing on the track frames by an equalizer learA spring when one track is raised above the other. G seated at its ends in seats H mounted on the .100

With these and other objects in view the inchannels D just rearwardly of the pulleys C and vention resides in the novel construction and passing beneath the crankcase J. The foregoing' arrangement of parts as hereinafter set forth elements and assembly are entirely conventional andV claimed, reference being had to the acin form and no invention therefor is herein y companying drawings wherein: claimed. y 105 Figure 1` is a, side elevation' of a tractor show- The present invention is made up basically of a ing the present invention applied thereto, a pair of tie for connecting members designated part of the track enclosing shield being broken generally at 1 and 2 mounted. one on each track away to Vexpose interior construction. frame and connected by atie bar structure 3.

` Figure 2 is ran enlarged vertical and QIOSS The tie member 1 on the right hand track frame `110 (as viewed from the front of the tractor) comprises a rectangular mounting base or plate 5 adapted to seat on the frame channels D and having downwardly turned lips 6 at its ends to grip the upper lateral edges of said channels and being secured in place by bolts 7 in a position just rearwardly .of the spring seat .H on that side. `Formed integrally with this base `5 is a head 8 enlarged and rounded in a vertical plane at its innermost end 9 and terminating 'in an outwardly extending and tapering reinforcing rib 10. The other tie or connecting element Y2 on the left track frame of the tractor Elikewise includes a rectangular base .or ,mounting plate 11 having downturned lips *'12 engaging .the upper and lateral margins of the frame channels D on that side and secured in place also just rearward of the spring seat H bybolt's .13.` :A fhousing 14 is formed on this base 11 at a point slightly off-center in an outward direction thereon fand having --an inwardly extending `and laterally projecting .head flange 15.spaced-upward from the base. The .housing 14 has an axially ex- .tended bore .-16 and inwardly :thereof .both lthe base 11 .-and inner endlportion .of the ange 15 `aire-bored out .fat aglarger diameter forrningjarcuate guideways 17 as shown 'in Figure 7. The :head flange 1 5 is lreinforced by -an integrally @formed rib .-18.- A .swivel .member-.or casting 1-9 is mounted by its reduced :and rounded stem .20 lini-the bore 1610i the `Housing 14 and inwardly of said stem this member has a head portion 21 Nvhiohs flat-ron its vertical sides 22 but rounded .omits fupper :and :lowerif-aces4 23 ito t in and -turn freely in the arcuate guide ways 17 aforesaid.

circular bearing shoulder 24 isrformed .and is adapted `-.t.o-.loear -on `the vinner -end of housing 14 and is held thereagainst by a nut .-25 Iturned on Vthe outerthreaded-.end-.26 of the -stemup-against the outer -end :face :of the .-housing. This nut holds the member 419 against axial :displacement Iin the housing Awhile -yet permitting -free rotary play and hardened bearing :collars .designated generally-at 27 may -be placed between the hous- @ing-.endsand-nut 25 and shoulder 24 '-to'prevent undue wear on the housing and swivel member.. r:I-l-ieriut .'-25'has the rounded 28 turning ffreely :in -a rounded depression 29 :in :the fbase lf-1 whereby the flatbed :head l30 .is -projected out- .Ward to give -free faccess to .a wrench for tight- .cnil-1g. .-A set screw `31is threaded through :the fsharik 28 rto lo'ck the nut :in fplace. At its :in-ner .end-,thehea'd portion 2:1 :is enlarged .and -rounded iin a :vertical idirection as fdesignated .at 32.

These rounded :and-enlarged inner ends 9 and 232 '.of the head imembers -8 'and 21 :have :equalizing islots .33 Aand .34, respectively, vc ut through .from :side tto .side :and -of .arcuate :form :and extended vertically These .sluts 'fare :out on arcs Vthe Ycen- '.t'ers 'of .which Iboth -lie .inwardly -of .the respective #head members and xrthe slots `are thus oppositely icurvedfso that'thei-r upper and lowerends turn or-curvefinwardly-a-s shown andffor apurpose 'to 'be described. 'Outwardly -o these slots 33 and `34iilrehead rnern`bersr8and 21 also have tie slots '.35 'and 36 Vrespectively 'which are elongated 'in .a horlizon'ta'l `direction also for a purpose 'to be described.

`The tiebarstructure 3 ashere shown lis made np ,o'f -itwo elongated nat .bars `37 ,and 38 spaced `apart .sufficiently to .receive the .heads 48 and .2l .between .their fends `and having .their A.ends 39 ,wr .and 10 .reducedin width, .and fprovided with tie pins or rollers 41 and 42 extended between the bars and playing freely in the tie slots and 36 respectively, said rollers being journaled on axle pins or bolts 43 and 44 passed through the bar ends. Equalizing rollers 45 and 46 are mounted between the bars 37 and 38 and play in the slots 33 and 34 and varellkewise journaled on axle pins or bolts 47 and 48 passing through the said bars. Between these rollers 45 and 46 the bars -Hmay lbe curved downwardly or depressed as `shown in order to clear the crank case J of the tractor if necessary. Also the ends 39 and 40 of tlirebarsamay be cut out arcuately as designated at 49 in `order to clear the adjacent edges of the ybases 5 and '11.

It'will be readily apparent from the foregoing that the tie bars 37 and 38, equalizing rollers 45 vand .'46 and tie members 1 and 2 arranged as shown will positively hold the front ends of the track frames in proper even spacing when travel- `ing over .level aground. Now asl one track frame for instancethat on `the right .is raised or swung upward at `its frontend in passing over an obstruction or uneven ground the frame channels vvD -on that side `are `of course raised (Figure 4) together `with the tie member .-1. They result is the `jtie bars `37 :and 38 swingsupward .at their right `ends rand their -ends being held against vertical ,playby the tie rollers 41-and 42 .playing :in the slots 35 andy36 -the equalizing rollers 45 `and .48 are @caused .tc travel in theequalizing slots A33 and 34 and the roller on the velevated ends of the tie 4.bars moves -down toward the klower end of .its slots-while .the roller at the other ends moves upward.l Since the upper-and lower -ends of these slots 33v and. 34 -turn and fextend :inward-ly toward the reenter fof .the 'tractor ,as-idescribedthis movement-of the rollers causes the tie bars to movev or be projected endwise in 'the -direction .toward the'elevated track and .the ,increased .distance -between the -tie members .-1 v`2 as measured -diagonal'ly andY caused `by lone being 4elevated -above the other vis thus-corni pensatedufor Vand fthe curvature .of the slots 33 and .34 .beingfproperlyadesigned .the track frames .are still `held at the 4saine :and -desired distance ,apa-rt eas measured .-in a fhorizontal plane. The .elongated 'for-mation pf the .slots.35 and 36 permits the necessary axial displacement-wor :play lof -the -tie ebars 37 and 38 during this action.

As the track yframe Ais raised Eat its front -end .as described the tie -member .1 on that side is tif-course swung -onan arc-.centered on the rear .axle-:E :and its -lat -head 8 is thus :moved out .of its usual :ver-.tical :plane anda twisting or tor- .sional-strain is @placed ,on-the .tie =bars 37 and 38. The :swivel .'rnember or head 19 :however may .rotate on its .axis .-i-n the housing Cl-4 to vpreserve the proper `-alignrnentof `the-parts, this bei-ng the ipurposerand necessity for a swivelconnection in the istructure.- -At the :same :timeas the track .frame .-is raised .the tie -member on that side -.-is carrie-d on the -arc .-back -to ,-a point lslightly behind or .rearwardly of vits usual lateral align- .ment-with the other 1tie .member and an :angufla-r strain lis-put on the tieibars 3-7 and 38 caus- .ing @them -to-swing rearward at ,their .elevated ends -as best .shown in Figure 3. To .permit this action and yet maintain .the prcperspaci ing-of -thebarsfadjacent the :heads 8 and'2-l of .the :tie members the yflat kvertical .sides of these .heads may .be ytapered.o1ii'fwardl-y.from their inner slotted endstoward `and A somewhat -beyond the .slots. 35and 36 as indicated at 5,0 in Figure 3. The axle pins or bolts 43, 44, 47 and 48 may be arranged in the tie bars .with sufcient looseness or play to thenallow the-associated rollers 41, 42, 45 and 46 to stand at proper. angles in their associated slots while the tie bars assume an angular position relative to said rollers and slots and the lnecessary axial displacement and swinging movement takes place. f

-As an alternative to this arrangement the bolts 43, 44, l47 and 48 may be extended at their ends for some distance, provided with cupped spring washers 51 'against the nuts 52 and` expansion coil springs 53 braced between the washers and the adjacent tie bar.v By this construction the tie bars are normally pressed together againstthe heads of the tie `members but as the tracks rise and fall thesprings will give and permit the necessary angular movement and displacement of the bars as aforesaid. In this case the sides of the heads'S a-nd 4l need not be tapered. i

The above action is the same when either of Y the track frames is raised and willfbe evident that the trackframes will be held in proper spaced relationship and alignment at all times and in all positions. The tieelements vmay be `provided' if desired with suitable mud guards or shields one ofwhich is shown in Figure 10 made up of sheet metal in the form of an inverted U-shaped box 54 secured by bolts 55 to the-housing flange 15 and Vhaving its sides 56 dropped down over the head 21rand adjacent ends of the tie bars 37 and 38 to protect the working parts. The equalizing slots 33 and 34 bearing as they do all the strain in holding the tracks in alignment may be provided with hardenedarcuate races 57 (one shown in Figure 9) driven into the slots to prevent undue wear and allow convenient replacement when necessary.

In some installations it may be necessary to vary the arrangement and connection of the tie bars and tie members and one variation is shown in Figure 1l illustrating only the right hand end of the tie bar and associated parts. In this case the equalizing slot 32m instead of being in the head 8a is cut through the enlarged end 58 of the tie bar 37a and of course through the similarly enlarged end of the rear tie bar (not shown). The equalizing roller 45a is then formed of two parts mounted one on each side of the head 8a and held by the journal bolt 47a to play in the slot. ment requires that the slot 33a be cut just oppositely to those hereinbefore described so that its ends turnV and extend outwardly instead of inwardly as will be readily understood.

While we have herein set forth a certain'preferred embodiment of our invention it is understood that We may vary from the same in minor structural details soy as best to construct a practical device for the purposes intended, not departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a tie member for a device of the kind described, a mounting base, a housing formed on the base and having a bore, an overhanging head flange on the housing, the said head flange and base having arcuate depressions, a swivel member having a threaded stem journaled in the housing bore and including a head rounded on two opposite faces to enter .the said arcuate depressions, a bearing shoulder formed at the junction of the stem and head and bearing This arrangeagainst one end of the housing, a nut threaded on the stem and bearing against the opposite end of the housing, andmeans for connecting a tie bar to the head of the swivel member.

2. In combination with a tractor. main frame,

a pair of track frames pivoted attheir rearends to themain frame for vertical oscillatory movement at their frontal ends, a tie member mounted adjacent the frontal end of each track frame, one of said tie members comprising a rigid inwardly extended head having an arcuate slot near its inner-end, theother tie member comprising a housing,v ahead swiveled inthe house ing to rotate in a horizontal plane with `its `axis at right angles to the track frames, the said head having an arcuate slot in itsrinneri end,'a

tie bar structure comprising spaced tie bars re-V ceiving the said heads betweenv their ends, and rollers journaled between the tie bars inwardly of the ends thereof and playing in the said arcuate' slots.

3. InA combination with a tractor main frame, a pair of track iframes pivoted at their rear ends to the main frame for verticaloscillatory movement at their frontal ends, a tie member mounted'adjacent the frontal end of each track frame, one of said tie members comprising? a rigid inwardly extended head havinganjarcuate slot near its inner end, the other tiememfber comprising a housing, 4a head swiveled in the housing to rotate in a horizontal plane with its axis at right rangles to the track Vframes, the `said head having an arcuate slot in'its inner end, a tie bar structure comprising spaced tie bars receiving the said head between their ends, and rollers journaled between the tie bars `inwardly of the ends thereof and playing inthe said arcuate slots, the said heads also having elongated slots outwardly of the said arcuate slots, and rollers journaled between the ends of the tie bars and playing in the elongated slots.

4. In combination with a tractor main frame and a pair of track frames pivoted at their rear ends tothe main frame for vertical oscillatory movement at their frontal ends, a tie member mounted on each Itrack frame adjacent the frontal end, one of the said tie members comprising a mounting base and a head formed integrally thereof, the saidhead being extended inwardly of the track frame andV having an arcuate vertically elongated slot in its inner end anda horizontally elongated slot spaced outwardly therefrom, the other tie member comprising a mounting base and a housing thereon, a head swiveled in the housing to turn in a horizontal plane on an Vaxis at right angles to e :so

the track frame, the said head being extended Y inwardly and having an arcuate vertically elongated slot adjacent its inner end and a horizontally elongated slot spaced outwardly therefrom, a pair of tie bars extended between the tie members and receiving the heads between their ends, rollers journaled between theends of the tie bars and playing in the horizontally elongated slots, and rollers journaled between Y prising a mounting base and a head formed and playing l 15ov Y integrally thereof, the said'head beingextended inwardly vof the V track frame and having an arcuate Nertically elongated slot in its inner end and Ia horizontally elongated slot spaced `outwardly therefrom, ,the ,otherl tie lmember com- ;prising a mounting base anda Ahousing thereon, va :head swveled ein the housing to turn in a horizontal ,plane on an-axisiat right angles to the trac-k- `frame, the said head being extended Ainwardly and having an arcuate vertically elon- :gated slot :adjacent its inne-r end .and av horizontally elongated slot spaced outwardly therefrom, a pair of tie bars extendedl between the tie members and receiving the heads between .their ends, rollers journaled between the ends of .thegtie bars and playing in the horizontally elongated slots, and` rollers journaled -between the tie bars inwardly of their ends and playing inthe vertically elongated slots and resilient .means for holding the said tie barsqtogether and allowing independent axial and horizontal play thereof. i

V6.l In combination withl a tractor main frame, a pair of track frames pivoted at their rear ends vto lthe main frame for vertical oscillatory movement at :their frontal ends, a tie member mounted adjacent the frontalend of each track frame, one of said tie members comprising arigid inwardly .extended head having an arcuate slot near its inner end, therother tie membercomprising a housing,a head swiveled in the housing to rotate in va horizontal plane with its Vaxis at right Yangles to the track frames, the said head having :an arcuate slot in its inner end, a tie bar structure comprising spaced tie bars receiving the said heads between theirfends, and rollers jour- .naled between the tie bars inwardly of the ends genome thereof andplaying in theysaid arcuate slots, the said yheads being tapered from their inner ends outwardly along the faces engaged by the ends of the tie bars.

7. In combination with a tractor main frame .and a-` pair of track frames pivotedat their rear ends to the main frame for vertical oscillatory movement at their frontal ends, a tie member mounted on each track frame adjacent the frontal end, one of the said tie members comprising a mounting base and a head formed integrally thereof,v the said head being extended inwardly of the track frame and having an arcuate vertically elongated slot in its inner end and a horizontally elongated slot spaced outwardlytherefromfthe other tie member comprising a mounting base andv a housing thereon, a head swiveled in the housing to turn in a horizontaLplaneon an axis at-'right angles to 'the track frame, the ksaidrhead being extended inwardly and having an arcuate vertically elongated kslot adjacent its inner end and a horizontally @elongated slot spaced outwardly therefrom, a pair of tie bars extended between the tie members and receiving the heads beftween their ends, rollers journaled between the ends of the tie bars and playing in the'horizontally elongated slots, and rollers journaled between the tie bars inwardly of their ends and :playingin the vertically elongated slots, the said rollers being loosely mounted to allow a ldegree of axial play between the tie bars, and

the yheads being tapered voutvvarly from their inner ends along the faces engaged by the tie bars. Y WILLIAM C. MORTON.

CARL P.v-DEGENFELDER. 

